Adam and I visited Joplin on business, as part of work

This quirky Missouri city has earned a few claims to fame

Joplin sits in the heart of tornado alley, where storms are a yearly reality

In 2011, one particularly devastating tornado flattened roughly 2,400 homes, destroyed about 1,000 cars, and wiped out numerous businesses, especially in the area between 13th and 32nd Streets

Remarkably, downtown was spared the worst of the damage

Joplin also sits proudly on historic Route 66 and was even an inspiration for Pixar’s Cars movie

On our way home, Adam and I did what any weary travellers might do, we checked in, passed through security, and set out to find some food

Big mistake

Every restaurant was landside, meaning we couldn’t access them without going through security again

As delays mounted, hunger grew

Then we had a brainwave

We asked the security staff: could we order a pizza and have it delivered to the terminal?

As long as they could scan it, they agreed

So that’s exactly what we did, and it made for a memorable airport experience

Conclusion: Sometimes, travel isn’t about sticking to the plan, it’s about adapting and making the most of unexpected detours

And in Joplin, even a pizza can turn into a story worth telling